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Git & GitHub

Overview​

Git and GitHub are essential tools for managing code, tracking project history, and collaborating with others.
Although the names are often used together, they are not the same thing.

  • Git is a version control system.
  • GitHub is a cloud platform for hosting Git repositories.

Learning both early will make your coursework, projects, and collaboration much easier.

Skill Level​

Beginner

This page is designed for students who are completely new to Git, GitHub, and version control.

Why This Matters​

As you build more Python, data analysis, and machine learning projects, you will eventually need a reliable way to:

  • save project history,
  • track changes over time,
  • recover earlier versions,
  • share code with others,
  • collaborate without overwriting someone else’s work.

Git and GitHub make all of this possible. They are widely used in:

  • software development,
  • data science,
  • academic research,
  • open-source work,
  • internships and industry teams.

GitHub​

What is GitHub?​

GitHub is a cloud platform for hosting Git repositories. It helps you store your projects online and makes collaboration easier.

With GitHub, you can:

  • store repositories online,
  • share code with others,
  • collaborate in teams,
  • manage documentation,
  • track issues and project tasks,
  • publish portfolios and open-source projects.

Git works on your computer. GitHub helps you share and collaborate through the web.

Before You Start​

If you are using GitHub for the first time, make sure you have:

  • an email address you can access,
  • a username idea,
  • a secure password,
  • Git installed on your computer (you can install this later),
  • a small project or folder you can use for practice.

If you do not have Git installed yet, that is okay. You can still create your GitHub account first.

Video: Create Your GitHub Account​

Watch this first if you have never created a GitHub account before.

This video is useful if you need help with the sign-up flow and first-time GitHub setup.

How to Create a GitHub Account​

If this is your first time using GitHub, follow these steps:

  1. Go to GitHub.
  2. Click Sign up.
  3. Enter your email address.
  4. Create a strong password.
  5. Choose a username.
  6. Follow the prompts to complete account creation.
  7. Verify your email address.

Your username is important because it becomes part of your GitHub identity, so choose something professional and easy to keep long term. Try to avoid usernames that feel too informal if you plan to use GitHub for internships, projects, or professional portfolios.

Verify Your Email​

After signing up, GitHub will ask you to verify your email address.
Do not skip this step. Email verification is important because it helps secure your account and enables full use of GitHub features.

If you do not see the email immediately, check:

  • spam,
  • junk,
  • promotions,
  • other inbox tabs.

Set Up Your GitHub Profile​

After creating your account, spend a few minutes setting up your profile.

A beginner-friendly profile setup includes:

  • your real name,
  • a short bio,
  • your location if you want,
  • a profile photo,
  • links to portfolio or LinkedIn later if needed.

Your profile does not need to be perfect on day one, but it should look clean and genuine.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication​

It is a very good idea to enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your GitHub account. This adds an extra layer of security beyond your password.
Even if you are just starting out, building good security habits early is worth it.

Create Your First GitHub Repository​

Once your account is ready, you can create your first repository.

Steps:

  1. Log in to GitHub.
  2. Click the + icon in the top-right corner.
  3. Choose New repository.
  4. Enter a repository name.
  5. Add a short description if you want.
  6. Choose Public or Private.
  7. Optionally add a README file.
  8. Click Create repository.

For beginners, creating a repository with a README is a good starting point because it gives the repository an initial file.

Public vs Private Repositories​

When creating a repository, you will usually choose between:

  • Public: anyone can see the repository.
  • Private: only you and selected collaborators can access it.

For learning and portfolios, public repositories are often useful.
For personal practice or unfinished work, private repositories can feel safer.

GitHub Desktop​

GitHub Desktop vs Command Line​

Beginners often wonder whether they should start with GitHub Desktop or the command line.

A simple answer is:

  • GitHub Desktop is easier for visual beginners.
  • Command line Git is more flexible and is widely used in technical workflows.

Both are valid starting points.
If you feel overwhelmed by terminal commands at first, you can begin with GitHub Desktop and gradually learn the command line alongside it.

GitHub Desktop Option​

If you are a beginner and the command line feels overwhelming at first, you can start with GitHub Desktop.

GitHub Desktop is a visual application that helps you use Git and GitHub without typing every command manually.

It is useful for beginners because it makes it easier to:

  • clone repositories,
  • view file changes,
  • write commit messages,
  • push changes to GitHub,
  • pull updates from GitHub.

This can be a good starting point while you are still learning the Git workflow.

Install GitHub Desktop​

To install GitHub Desktop:

  1. Go to GitHub Desktop.
  2. Download the application for your system.
  3. Open the installer.
  4. Launch GitHub Desktop after installation is complete.
  5. Sign in with your GitHub account.

After signing in, GitHub Desktop will connect your local work with your GitHub account.

Set Up GitHub Desktop​

When you open GitHub Desktop for the first time, you should:

  1. sign in to your GitHub account,
  2. confirm your name and email for commits,
  3. choose an external editor if you want,
  4. finish the basic setup prompts.

This only takes a few minutes and prepares the app for your first project.

Create or Clone a Repository in GitHub Desktop​

You can use GitHub Desktop in two common ways.

Option 1: Clone an Existing Repository​

Use this when the repository already exists on GitHub.

Steps:

  1. Open GitHub Desktop.
  2. Click Clone a repository from the Internet.
  3. Select the repository you want.
  4. Choose a local folder on your computer.
  5. Click Clone.

This downloads the repository to your computer so you can start working on it locally.

Option 2: Create a New Repository​

Use this when you want to start a brand-new project.

Steps:

  1. Open GitHub Desktop.
  2. Click Create a New Repository on your hard drive.
  3. Enter the repository name.
  4. Choose the local path.
  5. Optionally add a README.
  6. Click Create Repository.
  7. Click Publish repository to send it to GitHub.

This is often the easiest path for first-time users building a new project from scratch.

Make Changes Using GitHub Desktop​

Once your repository is open:

  1. edit files in your code editor,
  2. return to GitHub Desktop,
  3. review the changed files in the Changes tab,
  4. write a short commit summary,
  5. click Commit to main or Commit to master depending on the branch name,
  6. click Push origin to upload your changes to GitHub.

This is the visual version of the same Git workflow you would do in the terminal.

A Simple GitHub Desktop Workflow​

A beginner GitHub Desktop workflow usually looks like this:

  1. Create or clone a repository.
  2. Edit files locally.
  3. Review changes in GitHub Desktop.
  4. Commit the changes.
  5. Push the changes to GitHub.

As you continue learning, you can also use GitHub Desktop for branches, pull requests, and syncing changes.

Git​

What is Git?​

Git is a version control system. It records changes made to files over time, which means you can return to earlier versions, compare edits, and manage project progress more safely.

With Git, you can:

  • track project history,
  • restore previous versions,
  • experiment without losing stable work,
  • work on new features safely,
  • collaborate with other people.

You can think of Git as a timeline of your project.

Install Git on Your Computer​

To use Git from your local machine, you need to install it.
The easiest starting point is to download Git from the official site:

After installation, open your terminal or command prompt and check that Git works:

git --version

If Git is installed correctly, you should see a version number.

Configure Git for the First Time​

After installing Git, you should set your name and email:

git config --global user.name "Your Name"
git config --global user.email "your-email@example.com"

This tells Git who is making commits.
Use the same email you want connected to your GitHub account when possible.

Video: Git & GitHub Basics​

After creating your account, watch this basics video to understand the workflow.

This video is helpful once you are ready to understand repositories, commits, push, and pull.

Important Beginner Terms​

When learning Git and GitHub, these words appear often:

  • Repository (repo): a project folder tracked by Git.
  • Clone: a copy of a remote repository on your computer.
  • Stage: selecting changes that should be included in the next commit.
  • Commit: a saved snapshot of staged changes.
  • Push: sending local commits to GitHub.
  • Pull: downloading new changes from GitHub.
  • Branch: a separate line of development used for new work.
  • Merge: combining changes from different branches.

Understanding these terms will make the workflow much easier.

Git vs GitHub and Basic Workflow​

Git vs GitHub​

A simple way to remember the difference:

  • Git tracks changes in your project.
  • GitHub hosts Git repositories online.

You use Git to manage version history locally, and you often use GitHub to store and share that work remotely.

Basic Git Workflow​

A typical beginner workflow looks like this:

  1. Clone a repository or create a new project folder.
  2. Create or modify files.
  3. Stage your changes.
  4. Commit your changes with a meaningful message.
  5. Push the changes to GitHub.

This workflow repeats throughout real projects.

A Simple Example Workflow​

Here is a basic Git workflow in commands:

git clone <repository-url>
cd <repository-folder>
git add .
git commit -m "Add initial project files"
git push

Later, when you continue working on the project, a common workflow looks like this:

git add .
git commit -m "Update analysis notebook"
git push

At the beginning, focus on understanding what each step means rather than memorizing many commands.

Your Very First Practice Plan​

If you are using GitHub for the first time, here is a simple practice plan:

  1. Create a GitHub account.
  2. Verify your email.
  3. Install Git.
  4. Configure your Git name and email.
  5. Create one test repository on GitHub.
  6. Create a small local folder on your computer.
  7. Add one text file or README.
  8. Commit the file.
  9. Push the project to GitHub.

This small exercise is enough to make the workflow much more understandable.

Getting Comfortable and Learning More​

Beginner Tip​

Whether you use GitHub Desktop or the command line, the core ideas stay the same:

  • make changes,
  • review changes,
  • commit changes,
  • push changes.

The interface may change, but the workflow does not.

When Students Usually Start Using Git​

You do not need to wait until you are an expert programmer.

Git becomes useful as soon as you start working on:

  • class projects,
  • assignments with multiple files,
  • collaborative work,
  • portfolio projects,
  • notebooks and scripts you want to improve over time.

Even simple projects benefit from version history.

Why Learn Git Early?​

Many students delay learning Git because it looks technical at first.

But learning it early has major benefits:

  • you develop better project habits,
  • you lose less work,
  • you can collaborate more confidently,
  • you are better prepared for internships and research work,
  • your projects become easier to organize and share.

Git can feel unfamiliar at first, but it becomes much easier with practice.

GitHub for Students​

GitHub is especially useful for students because it helps you:

  • build a public project portfolio,
  • submit code professionally,
  • collaborate on team assignments,
  • document your work with README files,
  • show recruiters or professors what you have built.

A well-organized GitHub profile can become part of your professional identity.

If you are a beginner, a good order is:

  1. Create your GitHub account and set up your profile.
  2. Install Git on your computer.
  3. Learn the ideas of repository, commit, push, and pull.
  4. Practice with one small project.
  5. Later, learn branches, pull requests, and collaboration workflows.

Do not try to learn everything in one day.

Getting Started​

Installation and Setup​

Documentation and Guides​

Interactive Practice​

Common Beginner Mistakes​

Thinking Git and GitHub Are the Same​

They work together, but they are different tools. Git manages version history, while GitHub hosts and shares repositories.

Memorizing Commands Without Understanding the Workflow​

Try to understand the meaning of clone, add, commit, push, and pull. The workflow matters more than memorizing command lists.

Avoiding Git Until a Big Project​

Git is easiest to learn on small projects. Starting early makes later collaboration much easier.

Writing Poor Commit Messages​

A commit message should describe what changed clearly.

For example:

  • Add data cleaning script
  • Fix score calculation bug
  • Update README with project instructions

This makes project history easier to understand.

Skipping Account Setup Details​

Many beginners create an account quickly but forget important setup steps such as email verification, profile cleanup, and Git configuration on the local machine.

Key Takeaways​

  • Git is a version control system.
  • GitHub is a platform for hosting Git repositories.
  • GitHub Desktop can be a gentle way to learn the workflow visually.
  • Installing and configuring Git on your computer is an important early step.
  • A beginner should first learn the basic workflow: clone, edit, stage, commit, and push.
  • Learning Git and GitHub early is one of the most useful long-term technical habits you can build.

Next Step​

A strong next step is to create a GitHub account, install Git, create one small repository, and make your first commit.

That first hands-on workflow usually makes the concepts much clearer than reading alone.